Lower tackle height at the heart of plans to enhance community rugby experience

Lower tackle height at the heart of plans to enhance community rugby experience for all

• Enhanced playing experience and player welfare at the heart of recommendations being made to the World Rugby Council in May
• Independent research supports lowering of the legal tackle height as a means of reducing the number of head impacts and concussions in the community and youth game
• Recent pilot trials in France also show positive outcomes in terms of, player experience and community game participation
• Unions will be encouraged to opt-in to a global law trial reducing the legal height of the tackle at Community and youth levels.
• Unions will be able to determine the exact tackle height within their jurisdiction but World Rugby will recommend a reduction to below the sternum
• The lower tackle height is aimed at increasing accessibility, safety and enjoyment.

World Rugby’s Executive Board has recommended that Unions participate in an opt-in global trial of lowering the tackle height in the community game to below the sternum (also known as a “belly tackle”).

National unions are now encouraged to consult with their community rugby game regarding the recommendation. Any future adoption of a lowered tackle height will be underpined by a comprehensive roadmap of education and resources that will support implementation locally at all grassroots levels of the game. Unions will also be encouraged to undertake formal research into the impact of the intervention, enabling World Rugby to fully evaluate the trial and determine future steps.

The announcement follows extensive analysis and consultation with unions over the last six months and reflects the international federation’s core mission of a global sport for all, seeking to enhance the experience for players in order to keep building engagement across the globe.

Supporting a safer more enjoyable game

World Rugby-endorsed pilot trials of lower tackle heights have been conducted in the community game in France and South Africa. These trials have been proven to deliver positive advancements in terms of player safety – reducing the number of head impacts and concussions - and the overall game experience – supporting increased ball in flow. The changes have helped to increase player participation in France. 

Change driven by emerging science and evidence

In line with its six-point plan to make the sport the most progressive in the world on player welfare, World Rugby continues to be guided by science and research as part of a relentless focus on reducing injury risk via education, sanction and law change. A reduction in the legal tackle height to below the sternum demonstrates increased safety outcomes while retaining the unique characteristics of the game.

Rigorous independent research shows that the tackle is responsible for 74 per cent of all concussions.  Reducing the height of the tackle protects both players.  The ball carrier is protected directly because head contact leading to injury can be significantly reduced, while the tackler is protected because their head will be in what is known to be a safer proximity with the ball carrier’s torso/upper body.  Tackles where the tackler’s head is in proximity to the ball carrier’s body above the sternum are more than four times more likely to result in a head injury, and so bringing tackle height down will benefit both players.

In light of this compelling evidence, including research using the latest smart mouthguard technology, World Rugby is recommending the legal tackle height be lowered on an opt-in global trial basis. Several unions have already announced their intention to support it.  

Supporting national unions with implementation via Game On Global

If approved by Council,in May the tackle height guidance, including comprehensive education tools, will be built into the existing Game On Global programme, which provides unions with a suite of modified contact law variations for the community game. It also complements a broadening of non-contact game. World Rugby believes that this ‘rugby for everyone’ package is essential to rugby’s future growth, prosperity and sustained appeal.

‘Rugby for everyone’ – tackle height action plan through to World Rugby Council in May

• World Rugby will continue to consult with unions on lower tackle height implementation and guidance around key tackle elements, including double tackles and tackling near the try line
• Guidance will be provided and linked to Game On Global, World Rugby’s Community Game modified law variations and Tackle Ready the best practise tackling resource, both of which are already available to unions
• Implementation would be approved on the proviso that tackle technique education is undertaken by respective unions for players, coaches, match officials and disciplinary personnel
• World Rugby will promote a new non-contact game and other modified contact games
• World Rugby will continue to seek and listen to feedback from everyone who loves the game

World Rugby Chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont, said: “It is important that we continue to explore ways that we can make our game as enjoyable and safe to play as possible. The community game is the lifeblood of our sport, representing 99 per cent of our participants, and the proposed tackle height adjustment has already delivered positive game shape and playing experience outcomes in pilot trials – this is essential to the sport’s future.  The evidence we have, from France in particular, shows that not only does reducing the tackle height make the game safer but it increases numbers playing as well. That has to be the aim for everyone involved in our game.”

World Rugby Chief Executive Officer Alan Gilpin added: “If our sport is to continue to grow, we must ensure that we are accessible and relevant to more people around the world. That means never standing still when it comes to advancing player welfare and experience. With compelling emerging evidence showing that a lower legal tackle height means a lower head injury risk, as well as more people playing, we are compelled to act.

“Change can be difficult. We appreciate that there will be sections of the community game who will question this move, but we must not lose sight of the fact that such a change has the ability to enhance enjoyment, reassure parents and welcome many new participants to the sport we all love.

“While this is a community rugby initiative, we would be open to discussions with unions who may wish to explore the possibility of a future closed trial at the elite level which would broaden research data. It must be noted that the elite and community environments are very different, they are essentially different playing experiences and sports.”

The recommendation was endorsed by World Rugby’s Community Rugby Committee and follows consideration by the national union Development Directors group in October 2022.

Supporting Research

• Initial data from the Otago Community Head Impact Detection Study (ORCHID) was presented to the 2022 World Rugby Player Welfare and Laws Symposium by Prof Melanie Bussey of the University of Otago (ORCHID). That data shows:
  • The tackle leads to more head accelerations than rucks or mauls
  • High tackles and head on head contact leads to higher forces on the head
  • The session titled “medical” can be viewed in full here. The first papers from this study are currently in peer review and are expected to be published this Summer
• World Rugby regularly publishes injury surveillance data for both the elite and community games which can be accessed here
  • This data shows that concussion is the most frequent injury in the game
• The peer reviewed study resulting from trials lowering the tackle height in South Africa can be found here
  • This paper sets out how a lower tackle height led to a 31% reduction in concussions